The 2017 NFL power rankings for Week 5 are now out and we’re tracking where the No. 1 team in football is ranked. The Kansas City Chiefs are No. 1 basically everywhere...
The NFL wrapped up Week 4 with a great battle between the Kansas City Chiefs and Washington. The Chiefs secured the win and moved to 4-0, the last unbeaten team left in the NFL. Naturally, they're the top-ranked team across the board in this week’s power rankings.
Top-shelf teams often squeak by in games, win when they probably shouldn't, or endure despite partial personnel. Each is applicable to the Chiefs, who -- final score notwithstanding -- narrowly moved past the Redskins to Week 5. It took a final drive from Alex Smith and the offense to set up the go-ahead field goal. Without the benefit of a few Washington penalties in the second half, who knows? Yet, the fact that Kansas City did win -- despite being without three O-line starters, Dee Ford and the kicker -- actually made the performance more impressive. The Chiefs gutted this deal out. Particularly Alex Smith, who showed he can still motor in his 30s.
The league’s only undefeated team deserves the coveted top spot in our rankings. Alex Smith made some damn impressive throws in crunch time in a Monday night win over Washington. A primetime showdown against Deshaun Watson & Co. awaits in Houston.
Kirk Cousins completed just 58 percent of his passes against the Chiefs on Monday night ... which was still the best by any quarterback against them this season. Kansas City has allowed a league-best 51 completion percentage en route to a 4-0 start.
The Chiefs are now the NFL’s only remaining unbeaten team. But let’s not pretend there aren’t cracks in their armor. They trailed for a large portion of the game, a home game at that, against Washington. And it’s not the first time- they trailed for a large part of the 4th quarter vs the Eagles too.
On the top, the Chiefs are the last unbeaten squad, and they are followed by nine teams at 3-1. I have the Packers and Steelers in the next two spots, but it’s really hard to sort through some of those 3-1 teams. Where would you do some shuffling?
Rookie kicker Harrison Butker, just signed off the Panthers’ practice squad, made the clutch FG late Monday night against the Redskins and the Chiefs remained the league’s only undefeated team. The offense didn’t get the usual big-play contributions by WR Tyreek Hill. But rookie RB Kareem Hunt again was productive, TE Travis Kelce was the go-to receiver for QB Alex Smith, and Butker atoned for a first-half miss by making his next three tries, including the winner.
Why they’re here: Man, that offense is loaded. Kareem Hunt was bottled up for much of the first half and still finished with 120+ yards, Alex Smith continued to play as well as he ever has and the Chiefs' rookie kicker delivered late for the team's fourth straight triumph. They're the last franchise in the league that the '72 Dolphins have to worry about.
As we saw against Washington, the Chiefs defense will give up some big plays from time to time, but it will make impact plays of its own. The important thing is the defense always makes it tough for opponents to finish drives with touchdowns.
Kansas City is the most complete team in football, and the Chiefs' status as the only undefeated NFL team reflects that.
The NFL’s only remaining undefeated team at 4-0. Andy Reid’s team hasn’t looked unbeatable by any means but they’re really good. Clearly the best squad in the AFC.
That was a good win over the Redskins. If Washington is legit, and it looked that way Monday night, Kansas City’s wins include at New England, vs. Philadelphia and Washington. And they beat the Chargers, who are better than that 0-4 record. This is going to be a season defined by extreme parity, but right now having the Chiefs No. 1 is the only sure thing (well, that and having the Browns last).
There is little doubt now they are the class of the league heading into the next quarter of the season. Can they stay there?